Composite panel with concrete backer and hanging members



Aug-T 1965 A. J. WOZNIAK ETAL 3,267,624

COMPOSITE PANEL WI TH CONCRETE BACKER AND HANGING MEMBERS Filed May 31,1963 INVENTORS ALBERT J. WOZNIAK BY RALPH H.sTo0s ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,267,624 QOMPGEITE PANEL WITH CONCRETE BACKER AND HANGINGMEMBERS Albert J. Wozniak, Cheektowaga, and Ralph H. Stoos,

Depew, N.Y., assignors to Fenestra, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,574 4 Claims.(Cl. 52-100) The invention relates to building structures and refersmore specifically to a building panel and improved means for hangingmembers therefrom and for bonding concrete thereto in compositestructures.

In the past separate single purpose, and often complicated structureshave been provided in conjunction with building panels for supportingmembers, such as framing for a hung ceiling, therefrom. These structureshave generally been attached to building panels from the bottom thereofwhich requires constant movement of, and work on ladders which is bothdangerous and expensive.

Also, structures for hanging members from building panels have sometimesbeen so constructed that objectionable through openings in the buildingpanels with which the structures are associated are produced on use ofthe structures. This is true, for example, when the structures arestraps cut from the panels which are then bent downward from the panelfrom beneath the panel. Such straps further have the disadvantage ofproviding single length hangers.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide abuilding structure comprising a panel and improved means for hangingmembers from the panel.

Another object is to provide structure as set forth above wherein theimproved means for hanging members from the panel also serves to bondconcrete to the panel in composite construction. I

Another object is to provide a building structure as set forth abovewherein the panel is elongated and is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced knock-out portions.

Another object is to provide a building structure as set forth abovewherein the means for hanging members from the panel comprises a T-barhanger inserted through openings in the panel provided by removal fromthe panel of the knock-out portions thereof.

Another object is to provide a building panel having a plurality ofspaced apart knock-out portions therein.

Another object is to provide a T-bar hanger comprising an elongatedmember having a bifurcated end with portions extending in oppositedirections at right angles to the rest of the elongated member andhaving means at the other end thereof for securing members thereto.

Another object is to provide a building panel and improved means forhanging members therefrom which are simple in construction, economicalto manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of building structure constructed inaccordance with the invention comprising a panel and improved means forhanging members therefrom.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of a knock-out portion of the panelpart of the building structure illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section view of the panel knock-out portionillustrated in FIGURE 2 taken substantially on the line 44 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the T-bar hanger part of the improvedmeans for hanging members from the panel illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse section view of a panel knock-outportion similar to that illustrated in FIG- URE 4 and in compositeconcrete and panel construction.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse section view of a composite concrete and panelconstruction similar to that of FIG- URE 6 illustrating a T-bar hangerin the composite construction.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawing, one embodimentof the present invention will now be considered in detail.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the improved building structure 10 comprises anelongated building panel 12 having knock-out portions 14 spacedlongitudinally thereof and T-bar hangers 16 positioned in openingsprovided by removing the knock-out portions to which members may besecured for hanging from the building structure 12.

More specifically the building panel 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 1,includes an elongated substantially fiat bottom plate 18 having an edge20 which is turned up at right angles thereto to form a tongue along oneside of the panel 12 and an edge 22 along the other side of the panel 12which is turned up at substantially right angles to the plane of theplate 18 and open returned to form a groove longitudinally of the edge22 of the plate 18. Thus the edges 28 and 22 form tongue and groovemeans for securing adjacent panels together.

Panel 12 further includes a pair of elongated downwardly openinghat-shaped members 24 which extend parallel to the bottom plate 18 andare secured thereto by convenient means, such as spot-welding theflanges 26 to the bottom plate 18. The hat-shaped members 24 are furtherprovided with the longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs 28.

The adjacent flanges 26 of the hat-shaped members 24 are spaced apart,as shown in FIGURE 1, and elongated knock-out portions 14 are providedextending transversely of the panels 12 between the hat-shaped members.The knock-out portions 14 are spaced apart longitudinally of the panel14, as previously indicated, and as shown best in FIGURES 2-4 aresheared from the bottom plate 18 by a partial punching operation leavingthe portion 30 along one of the longitudinal sides thereof intact.

The partial punching operation depresses the knockout portion 14 of thebottom plate 18 a distance equal to approximately half of the depth ofthe plate 18 so that separation of the bottom plate metal about theperiphery of the knock-out portion 14 with the exception of the portion30 of the periphery is assured but no through opening is provided in thebottom plate 18 unless the knock-out portion 14 is removed from thebottom plate 18. Thus no openings to provide leakage of concrete or thelike placed on the panel 12 is provided in the panels 12 unless theknock-out portion 14 is removed.

The depression of the knock-out portion 14 provides a recess 31 which incomposite concrete and panel construction, as shown in FIGURE 6, permitskeys 33 to form in the concrete 35. Keys 33 prevent the concrete fromsliding relative to the panel, which action would otherwise be normalunder loading.

The Tabar hanger 16, best shown in FIGURE 5, comprises an elongated fiatbar having a bifurcated end 32 forming portions 34 and 36 which are bentat right angles to the elongated bar in opposite directions, as shown inFIGURE 5. The opposite end 38 of the T-bar hanger 16 is provided with anopening 40 therethrough for facilitating connection of members to behung from building panels 12 to the T-bar hanger 16.

In a building construction the panels 12 are first secured to structuralmembers in the usual manner to provide a floor or a ceiling or both fromwhich it is desired to hang members, such as framing for a suspendedceiling or the like. The knock-out portions 14 are then removed from thepanels 12 from the top where it is desired to provide T-bar hangers bystriking the knockouts, a sharp blow, as for example by means of ahammer and chisel. The end 38 of the T-bar hanger is then droppedthrough the openings provided by removal of the knock-out portions 14 ofthe panel 12 to provide a desired hanger.

Additionally, as shown in FIGURE 7, in composite panel and concreteconstruction the portions 34 and 36 of each T-bar hanger 16 serve asshear lugs to cause the panel and concrete to move together. Thus thepanels are restrained from sliding relative to the concrete in suchconstruction as before.

Thus it will be seen that in accordance with the above disclosureextremely simple, economical and efficient structure for hanging membersfrom a building panel is provided. Further, as indicated above, sincethe knock-out portions provide no openings through the panel unless theyare removed from the panel and since they need not be removed from thepanel unless a T-bar hanger is required, no undesirable openings areprovided in the panel. Also, all work in providing the T-bar hangers forhanging members from the panel is accomplished from the top of theinstalled panels requiring no dangerous and time consuming work fromladders and the T-bar hangers can obviously be of any desired lengthWithout providing objectionable openings through the panels.Additionally both the depressed knock-out portion and the T-bar hangersprovide added bond between a panel and concrete poured thereon incomposite structures.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed indetail other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated. Itis the intention to include all embodiments and modifications of theinvention as are defined by the appended claims within the scope of theinvention.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A building structure comprising a plurality of panels including anelongated, rectangular, substantially flat bottom plate member havingmeans at the sides thereof for securing adjacent panels together, atleast two longi tudinally extending, transversely spaced apartdownwardly opening hat-shaped members secured to the upper surface ofthe bottom plate member, at least one transversely extending slot insaid bottom plate between the hat-shaped members being formed from aknock-out portion of the bottom plate and having a transverse dimensionless than the longitudinal dimension thereof, and a T-bar hangercomprising an elongated, substantially flat bar having a stem portionextending through said slot With the upper end thereof bifurcated andbent to provide portions extending in each direction transversely of theslot and an opening through the lower portion of the T-bar hanger foruse in hanging members therefrom.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including concrete ontop of the panels with the bifurcated end of the T-bar hanger providinga shear connection between the panels and the concrete.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the knockout portion of thebottom plate before knock-out thereof is separated from the bottom platearound both ends and one side thereof.

Structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the knockout portion of thebottom plate before knock-out thereof is depressed substantially halfthe thickness of the bottom plate.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCESSweets Architectural Catalog}? 1962, see. 2i/Fe, page 4.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

D. R. COMUZZI, R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiners.

1. A BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PANELS INCLUDING ANELONGATED, RECTANGULAR, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM PLATE MEMBER HAVINGMEANS AT THE SIDES THEREOF FOR SECURING ADJACENT PANELS TOGETHER, ATLEAST TWO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, TRANSVERSELY SAPCED APART DOWNWARDLYOPENING HAT-SHAPED MEMBERS SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BOTTOMPLATE MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SLOT IN SAID BOTTOMPLATE BETWEEN THE HAT-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING FORMED FROM A KNOCK-OUTPORTION OF THE BOTTOM PLATE AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION LESS THANTHE LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION THEREOF, AND A T-BAR HANGER COMPRISING ANELONGATED, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BAR HAVING A STEM PORTION EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID SLOT WITH THE UPPER END THEREOF BIFURCATED AND BENT TOPROVIDE PORTIONS EXTENDING IN EACH DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE SLOTAND AN OPENING THROUGH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE T-BAR HANGER FOR USE INHANGING MEMBERS THEREFROM.